Variable resistance exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus in which the resistance force experienced by the exerciser may be varied is provided. The apparatus includes a support frame within which a weight support carriage having detachable weight members is supported for vertical movement. A shaft is rotatably mounted on the frame and an exercise bearing member which may be engaged by a user is secured to the shaft as well as a cable wheel having a peripheral cable guide track. A length of cable is secured at one end to the weight support carriage, reeved through cable guides and movably attached at its other end to the cable wheel. A supplemental cam member having a varying thickness is received within the guide track and is movable therein along guide members. The position of the supplemental cam member may be fixed at predetermined points along the guide track in order that the cable must ride thereon, thereby providing exercise resistance or force which varies with the thickness of the supplemental cam member. Alternatively, the supplemental cam member may be provided on the cable wheel of an apparatus wherein the exerciser directly engages a cable. Also disclosed are embodiments including variable moment arms as well as gearing to vary resistance patterns by the effect of their ratios.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Weight lifting exercise apparatus comprising: a. a support frame;   b. weight support carriage means vertically moveable within said support frame for detachably securing a plurality of weight members;   c. cable guide means supported by said support frame;   d. a cable segment secured at one end to said weight support carriage means and extending through said cable guide means;   e. a horizontal shaft rotatably supported on said frame;   f. a bearing member attached to said shaft for engagement by a user to rotate said shaft;   g. a cable wheel mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith, said cable being attached at its other end to a point on said cable wheel, said cable wheel having an arcuate cable receiving surface onto which said cable segment may be wound by the rotation of said shaft by a user rotating said bearing member, with a point of tangency being defined where said cable separates from said cable receiving surface to thereby define a radius of tangency; and   h. a supplemental cam member having a supplemental cable receiving surface, said cam member being attachable to said cable wheel so that said supplemental cable receiving surface may overlie at least a portion of said cable receiving surface to define a modified cable receiving surface which presents radii of tangency during rotation of said cable wheel which are greater than the radii of tangency presented by said cable receiving surface.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus of claim 1 in which said cable wheel comprises a cable guide channel having upstanding walls laterally adjacent to said cable receiving surface. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus of claim 2 in which said supplemental cam member comprises: a. a body member which may be received within said cable guide channel; and   b. a supplemental cable guide channel having upstanding walls laterally adjacent to said supplemental cable receiving surface.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for fixing the circumferential position of said supplemental cam member, comprising: a. a plurality of apertures in said cable wheel spaced about the periphery thereof; and   b. pop pin means attached to said body member and having a pin which may engage a predetermined aperture among said plurality of apertures.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a. circumferential guide grooves formed in said upstanding walls of said cable guide channel; and   b. guide members formed in said body member for engagement with said guide grooves.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus of claim 1 in which said supplemental cam member comprises a supplemental cable receiving surface having more than one point of maximum radius of tangency. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second supplemental cam member having a second supplemental cable receiving surface, said second supplemental cam member being attachable to said supplemental cam member so that said second supplemental cable receiving surface overlies a portion of said supplemental cable receiving surface to define a further modified cable receiving surface. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a. a first moment arm rotatably supported on said shaft adjacent to said cable wheel;   b. means for attaching said first moment arm to said cable wheel; and   c. a first weight member supported on said first moment arm.   
     
     
       9. Apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: a. a second moment arm rotatably supported on said shaft adjacent to said first moment arm;   b. means for attaching said second moment arm to said first moment arm; and   c. a second weight member supported on said second moment arm.   
     
     
       10. Apparatus of claim 9 in which said means for attaching said first moment arm to said cable wheel comprises: a. a first plurality of apertures provided at an inner radius on said cable wheel; and   b. a first pop pin on said first moment arm, said first pop pin having a pin member which may engage one of said first plurality of apertures.   
     
     
       11. Apparatus of claim 10 in which said means for attaching said second moment arm to said first moment arm comprises: a. a disk rotatably mounted on said shaft and from which said first moment arm extends, said disk having a second plurality of circumferential apertures therein; and   b. a second pop pin on said second moment arm, said second pop pin having a pin member which may engage one of said second plurality of apertures.   
     
     
       12. Apparatus of claim 11 in which said first weight member is attachable at selected positions along said first moment arm and said second weight member is attachable at selected positions along said second moment arm. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for varying the location at which said other end of said cable is attached to said cable wheel. 
     
     
       14. Weight lifting exercise apparatus comprising: a. a support frame;   b. weight support carriage means vertically moveable within said support frame for detachably securing a plurality of weight members;   c. a first cable wheel mounted on a rotatable shaft on said support frame, said first cable wheel comprising a first cable receiving surface;   d. a first cable segment attached at one end to said weight support carriage and at its other end to said first cable wheel so that said first cable segment may be wound onto said first cable wheel;   e. a second cable wheel mounted on said shaft and having an arcuate second cable receiving surface;   f. cable guide means mounted on said support frame;   g. a bearing member which may be engaged by a user;   h. a second cable segment attached at one end to said bearing member, passing through said cable guide means, wound around a portion of said second cable receiving surface and attached at its other end to a point on said second cable wheel, so that said second cable segment may be unwound from said second cable wheel when said first cable segment is wound onto said first cable receiving surface; and   i. a supplemental cam member having a supplemental cable receiving surface, said cam member being attachable to said first cable wheel so that said supplemental cable receiving surface may overlie at least a portion of said cable receiving surface to define a modified cable receiving surface.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus of claim 14 in which said first cable wheel comprises a cable guide channel having upstanding walls laterally adjacent to said cable receiving surface. 
     
     
       16. Apparatus of claim 15 in which said supplemental cam member comprises: a. a body member which may be received within said cable guide channel; and   b. a supplemental cable guide channel having upstanding walls laterally adjacent to said supplemental cable receiving surface.   
     
     
       17. Apparatus of claim 16 further comprising means for fixing the circumferential position of said supplemental cam member, comprising: a. a plurality of apertures in said first cable wheel spaced about the periphery thereof; and   b. pop pin means attached to said body member and having a pin which may engage a predetermined aperture among said plurality of apertures.   
     
     
       18. Apparatus of claim 17 further comprising: a. circumferential guide grooves formed in said upstanding walls of said cable guide channel; and   b. guide members formed in said body member for engagement with said guide grooves.   
     
     
       19. Weight lifting exercise apparatus comprising: a. a support frame;   b. weight support carriage means vertically moveable within said support frame for detachably securing a plurality of weight members;   c. cable guide means supported by said support frame;   d. a cable segment secured at one end to said weight support carriage means and extending through said cable guide means;   e. a first horizontal shaft rotatably supported on said frame;   f. a bearing member attached to said shaft for engagement by a user to rotate said shaft;   g. a first gear means attached to said first shaft for rotation therewith;   h. a second horizontal shaft rotatably supported on said frame;   i. a second gear means attached to said second shaft for rotation therewith, said second gear means being coupled to said first gear means;   j. a cable wheel mounted on said second shaft for rotation therewith, said cable being attached at its other end to a point on said cable wheel, said cable wheel having an arcuate cable receiving surface onto which said cable segment may be wound by the rotation of said shaft by a user rotating said bearing member, with a point of tangency being defined where said cable separates from said cable receiving surface to thereby define a radius of tangency; and   k. a supplemental cam member having a supplemental cable receiving surface, said cam member being attachable to said cable wheel so that said supplemental cable receiving surface may overlie at least a portion of said cable receiving surface to define a modified cable receiving surface which presents radii of tangency during rotation of said cable wheel which are greater than the radii of tangency presented by said cable receiving surface.   
     
     
       20. Weight lifting exercise apparatus comprising: a. support frame;   b. weight support carriage means vertically moveable within said support frame for detachably securing a plurality of weight members;   c. a first cable wheel mounted on a first rotatable shaft on said support frame, said first cable wheel comprising a first cable receiving surface;   d. a first cable segment attached at one end to said weight support carriage and at its other end to said first cable wheel so that said first cable segment may be wound onto said first cable receiving surface;   e. a first gear means attached to said first shaft for rotation therewith;   f. a second cable wheel mounted on a second rotatable or said support frame, said second cable wheel having an arcuate second cable receiving surface;   g. a second gear means attached to said second shaft for rotation therewith, said second gear means being coupled to said first gear means;   h. cable guide means mounted on said support frame;   i. a bearing member which may be engaged by a user;   j. a second cable segment attached at one end to said bearing member, passing through said cable guide means, wound around a portion of said second cable receiving surface and attached at its other end to a point on said second cable wheel so that second cable segment may be unwound from said second cable wheel when said first cable segment is wound onto said first cable receiving surface; and   k. a supplemental cam member having a supplemental cable receiving surface, said cam member being attachable to said first cable wheel so that said supplemental cable receiving surface may overlie at least a portion of said first cable receiving surface to define a modified cable receiving surface.